Pete Buttigieg blazed an LGBT path to the White House, and I'm both wrecked and grateful

[highplainsdem]

Must-read opinion piece by Michael Stern for USA Today:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/03/02/pete-buttigieg-exits-presidential-race-lgbt-yes-you-can-column/4928399002/

I’m heartbroken that Pete Buttigieg ended his campaign for president Sunday night. Not because Pete’s intellect, empathy, and ability to articulate his sound policies place him a cut above decades of politicians on both sides of the aisle. My emotional wreckage comes from watching an openly gay man, in a loving marriage, come so close to doing for the LGBT community what Barack Obama did for the African American community.

When Obama defied conventional wisdom, and the odds, to become the first black president of the United States, his achievement said to every black kid who thought he couldn’t — yes you can. The success of the former South Bend, Indiana mayor, on a national stage next to seasoned politicians and billionaires, offers a similar promise to countless LGBT kids who believe they can never achieve the same success as their straight counterparts.

When I was hired by the Department of Justice in Detroit, weeks before the decade rolled into the 1990s, the FBI discovered I’m gay during my background investigation. In the months that followed, the FBI interviewed family, neighbors and colleagues about my “alternative lifestyle.” In the end, the Justice Department authorized my firing. Fortunately, the U.S. Attorney was given the option to keep me on, and he did.

Despite handling some of the department’s most significant cases, and twice being flown to Washington where the attorney general handed me an award for my work, I understood the reality of law enforcement’s historic bigotry toward the gay community. And so, for years I hid much of my personal life from the agents and other prosecutors with whom I worked.

-snip-

[redstatebluegirl]

1. I really like Mayor Pete, I doubt we have seen the last of this amazing man.

[RKP5637]

2. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Pete will be back, I'm sure.

With a little more age and experience he will be unstoppable.

[Sneederbunk]

4. Where do Mayor Pete's delegates go?